Will It Tow?
2020 Ford F-150 (3.0L Power Stroke V6 diesel) with the 2027 Forest River Flagstaff Classic Fifth Wheel 301CRK at its full GVWR of 9,963 lb, two adults and a dog aboard and a weight-distribution hitch.
Over on payload.
- Tow rating: 137 lb to spare (9,963 lb camper, rating 10,100 to 11,500 lb)
- Payload: Over by 593 lb (2,613 to 3,311 lb used, payload up to 2,020 lb)
- Truck and trailer together: Not sure yet (16,333 lb, GCWR up to 17,200 lb)
Check it with your own numbers- Fifth wheel hitch (needed): Rated for at least your camper's weight (9,963 lb) and about 2,500 lb of pin weight. That points to a 16K-class hitch or bigger. It mounts in the bed over the rear axle.
- Weight distribution and sway control (not needed): Fifth wheels ride on a hitch over the truck's rear axle, which makes them much more stable than a bumper-pull. These are for travel trailers.
- Short bed? (check): With a bed under 8 ft, use a slider hitch or a pin box made for short beds so the camper clears your cab on tight turns.
- Brake controller (needed): Your camper has electric brakes, and the controller in your cab runs them. Many newer trucks have one built in.
- Measure your pin weight (tip): We're estimating 1,793 to 2,491 lb. A CAT scale weigh, hitched and unhitched, gives you the real number. Enter it in step 2.
Hitches make towing steadier, but none of them raise your tow rating or payload. The hitch itself counts against payload.
Ratings come from manufacturer towing guides and spec sheets. These are planning estimates, not a safety guarantee. Your truck and camper stickers, your owner's manual and a scale always win.